Chairman Seeks Involvement Of Youths In Agric

The Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Cross River State branch, Mr Etim Nakanda, has called on the state government to ensure more involvement of youths in agriculture.

Nakanda, who made the call in an interview with newsmen in Calabar, also called for the establishment of special committee for its realisation.

The chairman argued that such a committee was necessary for proper motivation of the youths in the state to go into farming.

“Our youths are ready to engage in agriculture but lack of government’s support and funds have always hampered their zeal.

“We do not want fast money but want to engage in productive life through agriculture.

“I appeal to the state government to set up a special committee for youths in agriculture, so that we will have a sense of belonging.

“This will afford us the opportunity to contribute our own quota to the agricultural transformation agenda of the present administration’’, he said.

Nakanda added that there was the need for government to sensitise the youths across the state on the benefits of agriculture instead of waiting for non-existent white collar jobs.

The chairman, however, commended the state government for its efforts in the sector so far, but urged it to do more by getting the teeming youths involved.

For instance, he said the number of youths that benefitted from a recent government-sponsored agricultural training in Songhai farming in Port Novo was infinitesimal, considering the number of unemployed youths.

Nakanda, therefore, called for more of such overseas training to expose beneficiaries to modern farming techniques..

“We have the potential to become the food basket of the nation if the youths are properly engaged in agriculture’’, he added.

The chairman also advised the youths to shun social vices in spite of challenges they were facing.